Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit, London
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit is a pru school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit in detail
Where pupils go next
Of the 37 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 54% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 51% to a further education college and 3% to an apprenticeship.
Who goes there
80.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 14.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 51 pupils (82.3%) received SEN support and 9 (14.5%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Tooting Broadway Station, about 400 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tooting / The Mitre, 120 metres away.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from July 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Francis Barber provides a caring environment where pupils who have struggled elsewhere can thrive. The school combines high academic expectations with exceptional personal development opportunities, helping young people build real confidence and life skills. Staff are dedicated to preparing pupils not just for mainstream education, but for successful futures.
Key Strengths
- Warm, nurturing relationships help pupils settle quickly and manage their behaviour effectively - disruption in lessons is rare
- Exceptional personal development programme including gardening at Fulham Palace Gardens, life skills, and visits from local community members
- Strong reading support using age-appropriate interventions to help pupils read fluently
- High staff ambition for pupils' academic success across a broad range of subjects
- Successful reintegration into mainstream education - pupils often go on to achieve GCSEs and further education
Areas for Improvement
- Curriculum design is inconsistent across subjects - in some subjects like mathematics and art it is well-structured, but in others it is unclear what pupils should learn and in what order, limiting their progress
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with strong systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening programme at Fulham Palace Gardens, life skills lessons, visits from local community members, involvement of police in lesson delivery
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit is a school for pupils aged 11-16 who have experienced difficulties with behaviour and emotions in previous settings. The school has been rated Good for quality of education and behaviour, with Outstanding ratings for personal development and leadership.
At a Glance
80.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit is in Wandsworth; for families living there:
Apply to Wandsworth for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 313
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 33
- Children hurt
- 14
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 313 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 33 serious and 279 slight.
14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
55 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wandsworth is 99 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
52%
Available places
62 pupils
120 places
58 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Wandsworth council
Places available
2,095
Applications
2,164
Got 1st preference
60.4%
Got preferred school
90.2%
All secondary applications across Wandsworth council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(10)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
51
SEN Support
9
EHC Plans
96.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
62
Total Pupils
36
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
21
Teachers
3.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£72,428
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit
What is Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit's Ofsted rating?
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit?
No fixed boundary. When Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit is oversubscribed, Wandsworth allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit?
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit has around 62 pupils on roll. 81% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit?
Apply through Wandsworth's coordinated admissions process, naming Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 313 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 33 serious and 279 slight. 14 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 10 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 55 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wandsworth is 99 (the median across 113 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit?
Francis Barber Pupil Referral Unit is at Franciscan Road, London, SW17 8HE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)